Alstroemeria plant named King Cardinal

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Alstroemeria plant characterized by a profuse production of very large, deep red flowers borne on long stems, each of the successively opening flowers having 7 to 10 day lasting quality and the plant blooming recurrently first in early Spring and again in Fall.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

My new variety of red Alstroemeria originated as a seedling resultingfrom a cross of A. or. x 3087-3, unnamed varieties maintained by me forbreeding purposes, this cross having been made by me in the course ofbreeding efforts carried on at Aalsmeer, Holland, in 1975 with theobject of obtaining a wider color range of marketable Alstroemeriavarieties. This seedling was selected for propagation because of itsflower size and color and asexual reproduction was done under mydirection at Aalsmeer, Holland, by dividing roots of the originialplant. Subsequent reproduction of the new plant through successivegenerations, again by root stock division, has shown that thisAlstroemeria cultivar retains its novel and distinctive characteristicsfrom generation to generation and these characteristics appear to befirmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Alstroemeria cultivar is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographic drawing which shows the flowering characteristic of theplant as well as the flower form and coloring, the photographic printhaving been hand painted, in part only, to show the true colors of theflowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of this new variety ofAlstroemeria with the color designations according to The R.H.S. ColourChart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: A. or. 6 x 3087-3, unnamed varieties maintained for breedingpurposes.

Classification:

Botanic.--Alstroemeria.

Commercial.--Hybrid Alstroemeria.

Form: Erect, herbaceous bush.

Height: About 1.5 meters.

Growth: Vigorous, upright and sturdy.

Root stock: Tuberous, producing many buds during the year from whichflower stalks grow in various stages of development.

Branching: Normal, each flower stalk produces 4 to 7 raceme flowerbearing stems in umbel arrangement at its top.

Foliage: Quantity -- abundant, with about 20 to 30 leaves.

Leaf form.--Long oblanceolate with acuminate apex.

Texture.--Soft.

Color.--Middle green.

THE BUD

Form: Pear shaped in beginning, becoming long pointed at time ofopening.

Size: About 2.5 cm. long at opening.

Opening rate: The bud opens slowly.

Peduncle: Sturdy, extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle of about60° from the stem.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Recurrent, blooming profusely and more-or-lesscontinuously from early Spring and in the Fall.

Size of flower: Very large.

Diameter.--About 5.5 to 6 cm.

Depth.--About 4 cm.

Borne: Singly on a long peduncle from a long and strong raceme stem.

Flower shape: Generally funnel-like.

Petalage: Number of petals -- 6.

Arrangement.--Two concentric circles each of three petals.

Form.--Wide elliptic and slightly serrated at outer end.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Shiny.

Color.--Outer petals -- 43A/B. Inner petals -- body, 43A/B; base, 9A/Bat opening, becomng 13A as the flower matures.

Peduncle: Long, sturdy and upright, the length depending upon the timein the growing season.

Persistence: The flowers hang on and dry.

Lasting quality:

On plant.--10 days.

As a cut flower.--7 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Six.

Arrangement.--One opposite each petal.

Anthers.--Length -- about 7 mm.

Filaments.--Length -- about 4 cm.

Pistils: Number -- one.

Style.--About 3 cm. long.

This Alstroemeria cultivar is particularly distinguished by the verylarge size of its flowers which appear successively on long, strong,raceme stems and by the deep red coloring of its flower petals which issharply contrasted by the bright yellow color appearing at the base ofeach of the inner or nectar-bearing petals. This new variety ofAlstroemeria is also characterized by its vigorous growth and profuseproduction of flowers during a relatively long blooming season.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinctive Alstroemeria cultivar, substantiallyas herein shown and described, characterized by the large size of itsred flowers appearing on very long and strong raceme stems and by itsvigorous growth and profuse flower production.